SYSTEM DESIGN

What is a computer?

In its most
basic form a computer is a system comprising of input, processing and
output devices. Input devices include keyboards, mice, joysticks, mic's or cameras.
Output devices include printers, video screens, speakers and holo-projectors.

To make computers
easier to use we invented operating systems which translate our information
and commands into instructions a computer can understand (well, most of the
time anyway). The operating system also changes the processor's raw output into
a form we can use.

System
OptionsComputers come in many different sizes and reliability's. Use these
options to add more flavour.

Storage
You have to store the operating system and your data somewhere right?

Power Systems

Not all computers are created
equal and although the upgrade curve has slowed down is hasn't vanished. All
computers have a power rating and the higher this number the more powerful the
machine's computing ability.

System Type

Example

Minimum & Maximum
Power Rating

MU of Storage
per Power Rating

Cost per
Power Rating

Pocket

Organiser

1 - 3

5

$200

Laptop

Portable

3 - 9

10

$300

Desktop

Workstation

3 - 10

10

$250

Minicomputer

Small server

6 - 12

20

$750

Macroframe

Company server

8 - 15

30

$1,000

Supercomputer

Research?

10 - 20

40

$2,000

Store is the amount of storage memory per power rating
the system has (see "Storage facilities").

$/power is the amount in world dollars per power rating.
So, an Orion Cyberfax, with a power rating of three, costs $600.

INTERFACES

An interface helps us operate
the computer translating information between both parties (i.e.: the computer
and us). In the dim and distant past computers had just a collection of dials
and switches for input and they produced results on punch cards and ticker tape.
As computers became more user friendly, designers added VDUs and keyboards.
The next steps including joysticks (for gamers), computer mice, vocal recognition
and much later on VR rigs.

Keyboards, mice, VR gloves
and voice recognition are all input devices and provide us with a way to input
commands to the computer system.

On the flip side you have
output devices such as display screens, printers, speakers or a VR environment.
The computer's processor formats the raw information through these devices so
that we may perceive it.

Groups

Standard:Your typical computer comes with a keyboard, mouse and flat screen as standard.
Laptops, palmtops and "micros" have very thin built in screen although
expensive models may use VRching goggles or holoprojectors (see below).

Simple: $25
Digital cameras, music players and video chip readers have these basic 10 button
interfaces and a screen to display track or picture info.

Holographs: $500
Some systems now come with a holopad which creates a 3D image above the computer.
These are often used in conjunction with datagloves or have pointer spotting
(as touch screen, but for 3D). More expensive models ($700) can project images
just about anywhere in the room (including across your vision for a panoramic
view).

Audio: $50
You don't have to use a keyboard any more - you can issue verbal commands directly
to your computer. Many household appliances have this function and office computers
allow you to dictate to them. Speech recognition has come on as AI software
has developed. Audio interfaces come with speakers so the computer can talk
back to you (although it's vocabulary won't win any Oscars).

Goggles: $100
Goggles don't have the power of a true VRching headset, but they do allow you
to pretend you are reading information directly from a computer screen. They
have an added advantage of knowing what you are looking at and this does away
with having to use a mouse.
Goggles come in pairs, like sunglasses, or as a single monocle. They allow you
to superimpose information on what you are seeing or keep it as a small window.
This is handy for driving or using your palmtop on the train.

VRching gear: $250
This is a pair of data gloves and a lightweight headset containing mic, eye
and earphones. For replacement purposes, the gloves cost $50 each and the headset
is $150.

Playback Interface: $500
This system allows the user to receive information via a sensory link data plug
or electrode crown. No input is possible via this unit, a VR rig or keyboard
is required.

Neural Interface: $1,000
A user of this system has full sensory in- and output. No screen or external
input is required, all interaction can be done via the neural link.

Interface Examples

Don't forget that just
about anything made in the modern world contains some sort of computer processor.
Your house key and bank card are just one of them. Some of the interfaces listed
above may sound a little impractical but consider these:

Universal MusicMan (music chip player)This system is a low power processor with a large storage memory so you
can upload you favourite tracks to it. It has a simple button interface and
small display to list the song details (artist, track, duration). The whole
unit is the size of a box of matches.

ATB Exec-Pro (personal organiser)
ATB ignored the expense and went for a voice recognition as standard
on their personal data assistants. Do you really want to crack open your PDA
and type in your memos? No, didn't think so - the ATB unit will listen to
your instructions and make notes accordingly.
The next model up, the WiseGuy, is more interactive and talks back to you
and will question you if it is unsure or thinks their might be a clash with
another appointment.

VRching gear:
Think tele-surgery or using heavy lifting gear - it's a lot easier
to interact with reality when you can feel what you are doing. Goggles are
popular with law enforcement types as they can get bang up-to-date information
without having to stare at a screen. In these cases, goggles are often tied
in with a camera in the agent's helmet or cap and fed back to Control.

Holographics:
HUDs have been with us in cars for years and now holographs are set to replace
them. As you don't have to drive or fly your car these days, a holographic
map is helpful showing where you are and where you're going.

Free Stuff

This is the
peripherals that a computer comes supplied with at no extra cost. They are not
truly free but are factored into the costs of a new system.

Basic Interface
All computer systems come with a keyboard and display panel. Unless you
specify a different interface the computer system will be designed around
it.
So a desktop will consist of a flatscreen that has the computer's processor
block built into the back of it and the keyboard and mouse plug into the
back of the screen.

Hardcard drive
This is a hardcard read/writer and is about the size of a packets of cigarettes.
It uses credit card sized "hardcards" which are a cheap form of
storage.

Network Interface
All computers come with a cheap but fast network card. This card allows
them to use a wireless (or cable) network (if the host OS can handle it)
and use network facilities. The network card can also be plugged into a
telephone line to access the Net.

SYSTEM OPTIONS

These are variants
you can add to your system design to add some flavour. Calculate the final cost
of the system and then apply any options to it. Always apply percentage costs
last of all.

Example:
Jack Frost builds a power 3 palmtop ($600) that is cellular ($250), has designer
looks (+10%) and uses goggles ($100) and a mic ($50) for an interface. The
basic price of this system is $1,000 and adding on the percentage increases
this to $1,100.
If Jack wanted to make the system even smaller he could and it would cost
$1,000 + 30% (10% from the designer add-on and another 20% for being compact).

This increases the function of the built in network interface. Using cellular
phone technology, a system equipped with this can dial into a private network;
connect to the Net or make normal telephone calls. This function only operates
within large cities. Cellular systems do not have to be mobile.

The computer's casing is styled and looks flash. Many top brand systems
are designer as standard (hence the inflated prices). This doesn't improve
your computer - but it sure looks nice (add +1 to style rolls).

This is only available for desktops and servers. This design packs all the
computers hardware into the display panel (making the display panel about
6" deep - opposed to the usual 2"). Useful if you don't have a lot
of desk space.

The system is either a beta product or of dubious manufacture). Should the
user drop or subject the system to any mildly rough treatment, the system
will require repair on a 2 or less on a D10.

STORAGE FACILITIES

Besides the interface and
the computer's power rating you should also consider the computer's memory.
This is where it stores programs and data files. All computer systems come with
enough memory and storage to host the operating system, a few programs and some
data.

Each power rating gives
a number of memory units (MU) for storage for files or programs. This is denoted
by the store value from the system table and as shown below:

System

MU per power rating

Pocket systems

5 MU per power rating

Desktops & Laptops

10 MU per power rating

Minicomputer

20 MU per power rating

Macroframe

30 MU per power rating

Supercomputers

40 MU per power rating

This figure is not a blank slate which is then used up by
the operating system, this figure is the remaining spare space.

NB: Hacking Toolkits: While
the operating system does not use up any storage space, the hacking toolkit
and toolkit options do. Every toolkit rating uses up 10 MU and each toolkit
option resource point (below), takes up 5 MU. This is discussed in greater depth
later on.

How big is a file?

The size of the file, depends
on it's content. This may sound strange, but different file types take up different
amounts of space and this is covered by the table below.

Increasing storage facilities

Storage space is increased
as if the system was of a higher power rating. This costs 10% of the system's
original price. This storage rating cannot exceed twice the system's
power rating.

The costs of any extra options
should be included in this! Components are altered for some options: some are
hardened to match battle casing; while cellular and mobile systems have modified
storage controllers.

Example: A basic desktop
system with power rating six, normally has 60 MU of storage and costs $1,500.
A tenth of this figure is $150, so each storage level costs $150.

Offline storage

Sometimes it is necessary to store data on removable media (backups for example).
Modern systems use one of two technologies: hardcards or luminal chips.

Hardcards
are fairly cheap, costing $1 for 10MU capacity. They are the size of a credit
card and all machines come with a built in card drive. Hardcards are an old
technology but they are cheap and fairly reliable.

Luminal chips are
faster and hold more data. They cost $1 for 20MU; $3 for 50MU, and $5 for 100MU
capacity. Luminal chips, or lims as they are sometimes called, can be
used as read only or as read/write media. Luminal chips are held with a clear
plastic strip about the same size as a piece of chewing gum. Most
LIM drives are read only and cost $100. Versions which can read and write to
the chip cost $200. Home systems use lims for reference material, big systems
use them for backups.